Heilongjiang Foreign Affairs Official Leads Delegation to New Zealand, Australia

Summary

Sun Jingxin, deputy director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, led a working group to New Zealand and Australia from 12 to 17 October 2026 to implement the consensus reached by General Secretary Xi Jinping with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,

and to deepen Heilongjiang's exchanges and cooperation with the two countries in trade, agriculture and cultural fields. In New Zealand, the group visited the University of Auckland to advance a joint education programme with Northeast Forestry University;

met Vivienne, president of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand-China Friendship Society, and visited the Rewi Alley Memorial Hall to carry forward the 'Rewi Alley spirit';

conducted field research at West Coast farms, the Dairy Works cheese factory and Yili Group's Australia-New Zealand subsidiary to promote agricultural and dairy cooperation; and visited the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland and the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch,

meeting with overseas Chinese organisations including the New Zealand Heilongjiang General Chamber of Commerce, the New Zealand Heilongjiang Fellowship Association, the New Zealand Northeast Fellowship Association and the South Island branch of the New Zealand Heilongjiang Chamber of Commerce. In Australia,

the group held working talks with William, an assistant to a Queensland MP, met with the Queensland Speed Skating Association and visited a speed skating venue to promote cooperation in sending the state's speed skating team to Heilongjiang for long-term training,

visited Griffith University to strengthen education cooperation, and called on the Chinese Consulate-General in Brisbane and the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney, meeting with Chinese community groups including the Australian Northeast General Chamber of Commerce,

the Australian Northeast Youth Chamber of Commerce and the Queensland Northeast Fellowship Association.

Commentary

The Heilongjiang foreign affairs working group's visit to New Zealand and Australia focused on advancing cooperation in agriculture, dairy and education. New Zealand is a major global dairy exporter, with companies such as Fonterra playing a significant role, while Heilongjiang is an important agricultural and dairy base in China. The two sides have complementary strengths in dairy processing technology, farm management and cheese production.

The group's field research at West Coast farms and the Dairy Works cheese factory, and its meeting with Yili Group's Australia-New Zealand subsidiary, indicate that Chinese dairy companies are seeking quality milk sources and advanced technology through overseas expansion. For New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprises, proactive engagement by a Chinese local government could bring concrete opportunities, such as supplying breeding cattle, pasture grass or processing equipment to Heilongjiang dairy firms, or participating in technical training programmes. However, such visits are largely framework exchanges, and actual orders still require companies to follow up actively.

On the education front, the group's work with the University of Auckland and Northeast Forestry University to promote a joint education programme reflects New Zealand's important education services export industry; the internationalisation needs of Chinese local institutions could bring student or curriculum cooperation opportunities to New Zealand educators. Nevertheless, China-New Zealand relations are affected by geopolitics, and businesses need to assess policy stability. Overall, Heilongjiang's agricultural upgrading needs match New Zealand's industry strengths well, but SMEs should obtain specific project information through chambers of commerce or trade promotion agency channels rather than waiting passively.

Keywords: Heilongjiang Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, Sun Jingxin, New Zealand, Australia, Rewi Alley spirit, University of Auckland, dairy cooperation, overseas Chinese organisations, Queensland speed skating, education cooperation

Source: Foreign Affairs Office of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government